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How To Sign FALL DOWN
in American Sign Language.
ASL LOVE
🤟 How to sign
To sign "FALL DOWN" in American Sign Language (ASL), use your dominant hand in a "V" handshape representing legs, starting upright and then falling forward and downward to show the action of falling.
📖 Word definition
To drop or descend under the force of gravity; to lose one's balance and drop to the ground.
🎯 Detailed Hand Movement Guide

  1. Hand Shape: Dominant hand in "V" handshape (index and middle fingers extended, representing legs).
  2. Starting Position: Hand held upright in neutral space in front of your body, fingers pointing up.
  3. Movement: Quickly flip hand forward and downward, ending with fingers pointing down.
  4. Path: Sharp, sudden movement from upright to fallen position.
  5. Hand Orientation: Starts with fingers up, ends with fingers pointing down toward ground.
  6. Facial Expression: Show surprise or concern, eyebrows raised, mouth slightly open.

⚠️ Common Mistakes & What to Avoid

❌ Slow movement: Make the motion quick and sudden to show the unexpected nature of falling.

❌ Wrong handshape: Use "V" shape to represent legs, not flat hand or fist.

❌ Gentle motion: The movement should be abrupt, not gradual or smooth.

❌ No facial expression: Show the emotion of falling with appropriate facial expression.

💬 Common Sentence Examples

"I fall down on ice."
How to sign: Point to yourself ("I") → sign "fall down" (V hand flips down) → sign "on" → sign "ice" (flat hands shake showing slippery surface).
"The child fell down yesterday."
How to sign: Sign "child" (pat head height) → sign "fall down" → sign "yesterday" (Y hand touches cheek and moves back).
"Be careful, don't fall down."
How to sign: Sign "careful" (K hands stack and separate) → sign "don't" (shake head with crossed hands) → sign "fall down".